Helpful Hints: Robert Frost’s “The Road Not Taken,” a poem about making decisions in life, famously begins with the line, “Two roads diverged in a yellow wood”
Sample Sentence: Some children find it difficult to be divergent from their parents’ beliefs while others choose to purposely rebel.

Discriminate(v) 1.) (VERB used WITHOUT an object) – To show preference; to favor one side based on something other than merit. 2.) (VERB used WITH an object) To differentiate; To make or constitute a distinction in or between

Synonym: 2. DistinguishAntonym: 1. To treat equally Helpful Hints: The first definition has a strongly negative connotation, but the second is neutral – it merely means to be able to tell things apart, or more accurately, yo make fine distinctions between items that seem similar.
Sample Sentence: It is illegal to discriminate when hiring or firing someone from a job based on gender, religion or race.

Encroach(v) – To advance beyond proper, established, or usual limits; To trespass on the property of another

Synonym: InterlopeHelpful Hints: In football, the penalty of encroachment is when a defensive player crosses the line of scrimmage too soon and touches an offensive player. He has invaded, or encroached upon, the opponents’ territory.
Sample Sentence: People build fences so their neighbors cannot encroach upon their privacy.

Exotic(adj) Strikingly unusual or strange in effect or appearance; Foreign

Synonyms: Uncommon, OddAntonyms: Normal, Ordinary
Sample Sentence: The Stoneham Zoo allows people to see exotic animals, such as tigers and elephants, that they otherwise wouldn’t see in this area.

Fraudulent(adj) – Characterized by or involving fraud, deceit, trickery, or breach of confidence, done for profit or to gain some unfair advantage.

Helpful Hints: People use this rhetorical device all the time. That last sentence was an example.
Sample Sentence: When arguing within your writing it is best to avoid hyperbole in order to keep your credibility.

Synonyms: Inconsistent, ScatteredAntonyms: Steady, PredictableHelpful Hints: You sometimes hear weather forecasts call for sporadic rainfall, which comes and goes during the day.
Sample Sentence: The baby would sporadically cry thorough out the night during the heat wave.

Understatement(n) – The act, or the instance of, representing in a weak or restrained way that is less than what actually occurred

Synonym: LitotesAntonyms: Hyperbole, ExaggerationHelpful Hints: Do not confuse understating with lying or sarcasm. If you score a 14 on a major test, it is dishonest to say “I did GREAT!” – that is merely sarcasm – understating the matter would be to say, “There is room for improvement here.”
Sample Sentence: Saying the school system wasn’t well funded was an understatement as they couldn’t afford text books for any of the students.